"The Kill Jar" ©2005 ® WGA
Written by: Marlene Sosebee

Story Title: "The Killing Jar"

Story Logline:
Four bikers try to retrieve a stolen treasure near a small desert town while being pursued by the law.

Plot Synopsis:
Sashena is abused by her casino boss who embezzles money from her tribal leaders. She and her brother Grimes, his friends Halis and Scooter rob the casino and bury the treasure in the desert.

One year later they return to the desert to retrieve the money. They stop at The Milkweed Diner and meet Jake, the owner, Lisa the waitress and her brother Kyle the cook. When Sashena and Kyle meet they fall for each other.

When Lisa makes a copy of the treasure map for Sashena at the Milkweed Diner, the ink ribbon imprint is later discovered by Jake.
When Grimes, Halis and Scooter head out for the treasure they are then followed by Jake, Cutter, and other bikers.

Sashena discovers that Jake and his henchmen have left town so she gets Kyle and Lisa to help her warn her brother.
Sheriff Jones is informed by his snitch, Homer that everyone is after the money and he and his deputy take off in their SUV after the bikers.

Scooter steals the money as Grimes and Halis sleep and runs into Jake shooting him dead. Scooter takes shots at Sashena, Lisa and Kyle as he speeds off on his Harley with the cash.

Sheriff Jones spots Scooter and chases him until Scooter crashes into a tree and is killed. Sheriff Jones knocks out his Deputy as a car shows up with the corrupt casino owner. The Sheriff kills him.

Grimes, Sashena, Halis, Lisa, Kyle, and others show up to find the casino owner dead. Cutter identifies himself as a US Marshal investigating the Sheriff, casino owner and Jake for originally embezzling the now stolen money to bribe a politician for a gaming license.

The bikers head off to confront the Sheriff. They shoot out the Sheriff's tires and kill him in a gun battle. The money is returned to the tribal leaders.

STORYFORMING DECISIONS:

Overall Story Goal:
The common goal is to retrieve the stolen money that was going to be used as political bribe money to influence gamming laws by a corrupt casino manager. Grimes,

Halis and Sashena want to give the money back to the tribal leaders. Jake Peters wants to steal the money from Grimes and Sashena. Sheriff Jones wants to steal the money for himself. For most, the common goal is greed but for Sashena, Grimes and Halis it is about justice.

Overall Story Throughline: Activity
The money is hidden in secret desert caves that are hard to reach. Harley's are ridden as far as possible and then hiking is necessary. Except for the Sheriff's SUV all other characters are on Harley's.

Main Character Throughline: Situation
Sashena steals money from abusive casino manager because it was taken from her tribe for gaming political bribe money. Sought after by the law, she and her brother bury the money. After some time they return to the desert to retrieve money. Her brother goes after the money and is found out by restaurant owner who chases after him. Sheriff suspects Sashena and her brother and tries to get her to rat him out. She stands her ground with the Sheriff and seeks help from locals. They chases after restaurant owner followed by Sheriff.

Main vs. Impact Throughline: Manipulation
Sashea loves her brother enough to do what she did for him. Grimes feels indebet to his sister and gives up his drug dealing.

Impact Character Throughline: Fixed Attitude
Grimes feels that life has delt him a bad hand. He has always had to struggle and drug dealing was the only way for him. Life on the reservation was hard and he always wanted more for himelf and his sister.

Main Character Resolve: Steadfast
She is determined at all cost to get the money back for her tribe.

Main Character Judgment: Good
Her brother killes the corrupt Sheriff and retrieves the money for her tribe.

Main Character Approach: Do-er
Sashena rides her Harley into the desert night to face any danger.

Main Character Problem-Solving Style: Intuitive
She notices that Jake is whisperring to his friends in the bar. Later, he and his friends dissapear.

Overall Story Concern: Obtaining

Overall Story Outcome: Success
After Grimes kills the corrupt Sheriff he gets the money back is able to return it to his tribal leaders.

Overall Story Driver: Action

Sashena is abused by her casino boss. She and her brother Grimes and his friend Halis and Scooter rob the casino. They bury the treasure in the desert. One year later they return to the desert to retrieve the money. They stop at The Milkweed Diner and meet Jake, the owner, Lisa the waitress and Kyle Lisa's brother and cook at the diner.

When Sashena and Kyle meet they fall for each other and dance at the local biker bar.

When Lisa makes a copy of the treasure map for Sashena at the Milkweed Diner, the ink ribbon imprint later is discovered by Jake.

When Grimes, Halis and Scooter head out for the treasure they are then followed by Jake, Cutter, Banes and snake.

Sashena discovers that Jake and his henchmen have left town she gets Kyle and Lisa to help her warn her brother.

Sheriff Jones is informed by his snitch, Homer that everyone is after the money and he and his deputy take off in their SUV after the bikers.

Scooter steals the money as Grimes and Halis sleep and runs into Jake shooting him dead.

Scooter takes shots at Sashena, Lisa and Kyle as he speeds off on his Harley with the money.

Sheriff Jones spots Scooter and chases him until Scooter crashes into a tree and is killed.

Sheriff Jones knocks out his Deputy. Homer and the corrupt casino show up and are killed by Sheriff Jones.

Grimes, Sashena, Hallis, Lisa, Kyle, Cutter, Banes and Snake show up to find deputy Long kocked out and Homer and the casino owner dead.

The bikers head off to confront the Sheriff. They shoot out the Sheriff's tires and kill him. The money is returned to the tribal leaders.

Overall Story Limit: Optionlock
After the Sheriff knocks out his Deputy and kills Homer and the casino owner he

steals the money. Sashena and Grimes must kill the Sheriff and return the money to

their tribal leaders.

Main vs. Impact Issue: Obligation
Grimes wants to keep some of the stolen money from the casino. Sasheena wants to give

it all back to the tribal elders where it belongs.

Main Character Problem: Pursuit
With the law on her trail she goes to warn her brother of danger.

ILLUSTRATIONS

Main Character Illustrations:

Name: Sashena

Role: biker

Description: (Shelly Little Feather) Native American female. Strong and determined,

Intuitive and aware of all around her. Focused on the problem at hand. Sister to Grimes. Believes in Grandfathers saying: "The desire for wealth and possessions is what ultimately destroys the beauty of nature".

Story Activities: Goes to desert with focus and purpose. Befriends Lisa. Falls for Kyle. Stays in town while brother goes after money. Is tempter by Sheriff to turn in brother but stays her ground. Learns of danger to brother. Gets help for brother and goes into desert to save him. Rallies bikers to go after corrupt Sheriff.

Main Character Throughline: Situation
Sashena steals money from abusive casino manager because it was taken from her tribe

for gaming political bribe money.
Sought after by the law, she and her brother bury the money. After some time they return to the desert to retrieve money. Her brother goes after the money and is found out by restaurant owner who chases after him. Sheriff suspects Sashena and her brother and tries to get her to rat him out. She stands her ground with the Sheriff and seeks help from locals. They chases after restaurant owner followed by Sheriff.

Main Character Concern: The Future
Sashena is worried about her brother and the fate of her tribe.

Main Character Problem: Pursuit
With the law on her trail she goes to warn her brother of danger.

Main Character Approach: Do-er
Sashena rides her Harley into the desert night to face any danger.

Main Character Problem-Solving Style: Intuitive
She notices that Jake is whisperring to his friends in the bar. Later, he and his friends dissapear.

Main Character Resolve: Steadfast
She is determined at all cost to get the money back for her tribe.

Main Character Judgment: Good
Her brother killes the corrupt Sheriff and retrieves the money for her tribe.

Overall Story Illustrations:

Plot Synopsis Recap:
Sashena is abused by her casino boss who embezzles money from her tribal leaders. She and her brother Grimes, his friends Halis and Scooter rob the casino and bury the treasure in the desert.

One year later they return to the desert to retrieve the money. They stop at The Milkweed Diner and meet Jake, the owner, Lisa the waitress and Kyle, Lisa's brother and cook at the diner.

When Sashena and Kyle meet they fall for each other and later dance at the local biker bar.

When Lisa makes a copy of the treasure map for Sashena at the Milkweed Diner, the ink ribbon imprint is later discovered by Jake.

When Grimes, Halis and Scooter head out for the treasure they are then followed by Jake, Cutter, Banes Rock and Snake.

Sashena discovers that Jake and his henchmen have left town so she gets Kyle and Lisa to help her warn her brother.

Sheriff Jones is informed by his snitch, Homer that everyone is after the money and he and his deputy take off in their SUV after the bikers.

Scooter steals the money as Grimes and Halis sleep and runs into Jake shooting him dead.

Scooter takes shots at Sashena, Lisa and Kyle as he speeds off on his Harley with the money.

Sheriff Jones spots Scooter and chases him until Scooter crashes into a tree and is killed.

Sheriff Jones knocks out his Deputy and Homer shows up with the corrupt casino owner.

The Sheriff kills them.

Grimes, Sashena, Halis, Lisa, Kyle, Cutter, Banes Rock and Snake show up to find the casino owner and Homer dead. Cutter identifies himself as a US Marshal investigating the Sheriff, casino owner and Jake for originally embezzling the now stolen money to bribe a politician for a gaming license.

The bikers head off to confront the Sheriff. They shoot out the Sheriff's tires and kill him. The money is returned to the tribal leaders.

 

Overall Story Backstory:
Sashena is sexually abused by her corrupt boss at a casino to keep her brother,

Grimes out of jail.

Grimes, Sashena, Halis and Scooter rob the casino when they discover that her boss is taking tribal money and using it for political bribe money to get a gaming license for own cassino. They hide the money in the desert and disappear for one year.

Sashena, Grimes, Halis and Scooter return to the desert on bikes to retrieve the money and stop at The Milkweed Diner in a small biker town needing to repair Sashena's Harley.

The corrupt wife beating small town Sheriff suspects the four bikers and finds out about the money wanting it for himself.

The Milkweed Diner restaurant owner, Jake, finds out about the money and wants it for himself.

Grimes, Halis and Scooter go after the money and Sashena stays behind while her bike is being fixed. At the local biker bar Sashena falls for the chef from the Milkweed diner, Kyle, and befriends his sister, Lisa, the waitress from the restaurant.

Sashena learns about Jake's plans to go after her brother and enlists Kyle and Lisa to help her. The three head out to warn Grimes. Sheriff Jones and Deputy Long go after the money as well.

After Grimes, Hallis and Scooter retrieve the money they camp in the desert and while Grimes and Hallis are sleeping Scooter runs off with the money. Scooter runs into Jake and his henchmen and starts firing his gun. Grimes and Halis wake to distant gunshots and realize the Scooter and the money are gone. Scooter shoots and kills Jake and makes it to his bike where he sees Sashena, Kyle and Lisa. Scooter shoots at them. Scooter speeds off and the Sheriff and his deputy pass him in their SUV making a u-turn in hot pursuit. Scooter crashes into a tree and is killed. Sheriff Jones knocks out his deputy and kills two others. He keeps the money for himself.

Grimes, Halis, Sashena, Kyle, Lisa and Jake's henchmen; Cutter, Banes and Snake leave Jake's lifeless body and go to the murder scene to find Scooter, deputy Long and Homer all dead and the money gone. They chase after the Sheriff and the stolen money.

Overall Story Outcome: Success
After Grimes kills the corrupt Sheriff he gets the money back is able to return it to his tribal leaders.

Main vs. Impact Story Illustrations:

Main vs. Impact Story Backstory:
Grimes resents that Sasheena had sex with her boss to keep him out of jail. Sasheena resents that her brother used to deal drugs.

Main vs. Impact Story Throughline: Manipulation
Sashea loves her brother enough to do what she did for him. Grimes feels indebet to his sister and gives up his drug dealing.

Main vs. Impact Story Concern: Changing One's Nature
Sasheena discovers that Grimes got drugs for Scooter and is mad at him for breaking his promise about never dealing drugs again.

Main vs. Impact Story Issue: Obligation
Grimes wants to keep some of the stolen money from the casino. Sasheena wants to give it all back to the tribal elders where it belongs.

Impact Character Illustrations:

Name: Grimes

Role: Biker, Sashena's brother

Description: (Anthony Vela) Native American biker, Big and strong, in control.

Sashena's brother. Caring and soulful. ex-drug dealer. Is in conflict over returning stolen money to rightful owners. Feels guilt over sister's past sacrifice to keep him out of jail.

Story Activities: Steals political bribe money from corrupt casino owner that was to be used to sway votes on gaming laws. Secretly want to keep money. Money was meant for tribal benefits. Leads Halis and Scooter into desert to retrieve stolen casino money. Goes after Scooter after he steals money. Goes after Sheriff when Scooter is killed. Kills Sheriff.

Impact Character Throughline: Fixed Attitude
Grimes feels that life has delt him a bad hand. He has always had to struggle and drug dealing was the only way for him. Life on the reservation was hard and he always wanted more for himelf and his sister.

Impact Character Concern: Innermost Desires

Grimes is concerned about Sashena's well being. He cares about his family and ultimately wants to do the right thing.

Impact Character Resolve: Change
After Sashena helps keep Grimes out of jail he feels guilt and remorse. After they give all the money back to his tribal elders he feels absolved. These experiences make him want to be a better person.

_____________________________

VOCABULARY:

Action: in terms of the Overall plot, actions force decisions

Activity: an activity or endeavor

Change: Sashena changes her essential nature while attempting to solve the problem

Changing One's Nature: transforming one's nature

Do-er: Sashena looks for a physical solution to her problem

Fixed Attitude: a fixed attitude or outlook

Good: Sashena ultimately succeeds in resolving her personal problems

Innermost Desires: basic drives and desires

Intuitive: Sashena uses intuitive problem solving techniques

Manipulation: a manner of thinking or demeanor

Obligation: accepting a task or situation in exchange for someone's earlier or

potential favors

Obtaining: achieving or possessing something

Optionlock: the story climax occurs because all options have been exhausted

Pursuit: the drive to seek after

Situation: a situation or environment

Steadfast: Sashena ultimately retains her essential nature

Success: the original goal is achieved

The Future: what will happen or what will be...

 

 



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